Bow making machine



United States Patent [72] inventor EugeneJacobson 2,542,222 2/1951 Welch223/46 Englewood, New Jersey 2,849,821 9/1958 Doig..... 41/10 [21]AppLNo. 19,904 r 2,563,678 8/1951 Gates 41/10 [22] Filed April 4, 19602,982,452 5/1961 Anderson 223/46 [45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 Prima E ryxammer ordan Franklin [73] Asslgnee sun Chemical Comma AssistantExaminer-George V. Larkin New York New York Attorney-Cynthia Beriow acorporation of Delaware CLAIM: Claim 1, in a machine for makingdecorative bows [54] Bow MAKING MACHINE from a continuous length ofribbon, rotatable loop retaining t 15 claimsflnrawing Figa means andloop f ormlng means said retaining means bemg adapted to retain 1n afixed position relative thereto and rota- [52] U.S. Cl. 2213/46 i l hith ibbo applied thereagainst said loop forming 1 f Cl A411 43/00 meansbeing adapted for movement successively toward said Fleld (Search l.retaining means to successively portions of ribb n 41/199; 23/2 15;61/9, 10 spaced along the continuous length thereof against saidretaining means successively to form loops of ribbon radiating from [56]References Cited the rotation axis of said retaining means, said formingmeans UNITED STATES PATENTS operating alternately to move towards saidretaining means 2,933,223 4/1960 Kravig et al 223/46 and insubstantially the same direction as said axis just prior to 2,884,1697/1959 Sperry..... 223/46 the application of said portions against saidretaining means 2,867,086 2/1959 Duncan 223/46 and to move away fromsaid axis in a direction lateral to said 1,224,268 5/ 1917 Bricken223/46 axis.

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z a 2, 2 I ,64 .17 a 2 PATENTEDDEB 8 19m SHEET 1 OF '4 v INVENTOR EUGENE11460350 ATTORNEY PATENTEUnEc 8197B SHEET 2 OF 4 mvm'n )R EUGENEJACUBSON BY fins/cal P 6 40 ATTORNEY PATENIED DEC 8 mm SHEET 3 0 4 w wm1 BOW MAKING MACHINE BOW MAKING MACHINE This invention relates to themanufacture of ornamental bows, rosettes, pompons, clusters, and thelike from ribbon and, more specifically, relates to machines and methodsfor performing said manufacture.

Ornamental bows and ribbon designs in large quantities are required fordressing gift packages, flowers, ladies hats, corsages, dresses, pursesand the like. Particularly large demands for such ornamental bows andribbon designs occur just before holiday seasons such as Christmas,Easter and Valentines day, and to a lesser extent throughout the yearfor gift packages and decorative devices. In order to manually tie a bowdesign, costly artistic skill is required. Machines of various typeshave been developed and used to make bows of different designs but allrequire varying degrees of supervision and all fail to produce acompleted bow, i.e. one which is formed, fastened and severed from theribbon supply. The operation of such machines must be supplementedmanually in one operation or another, e.g. to complete the forming ofthe bow, to fasten the bow and/or to separate the bow from the ribbonsupply.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a machine andmethod which forms, fastens and severs ornamental bows in largequantity.

Another object is the provision of.a machine which is adjustable toproduce ornamental bows of many and varied designs and sizes, includingpompons, rosettes, clusters and the like.

Another object is to provide a machine which will form, fasten, andsever bows from a ribbon supply roll and deliver completed bows.

A further object is the provision of a bow tying machine and methodwhich fastens tie ribbons or strings or cards to the finished bow.

Another object is to provide a bow tying machine which is simple andreliable to operate and is capable of producing bows, pompons, rosettes,clusters and many different ribbon designs.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeevident from the following detailed description of one embodiment of theinvention given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bow tying machine with aportion of one side support cut away to show the inner structure of themachine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view in section taken substantially on line2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the spindle indexing ap paratus for rotating theloop capturing or retaining pins;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation with structural parts cut awayto show the inner construction of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spindle sprocket wheel,spindle and capturing pins showing the retracting action of thecapturing pins;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the spindle lookingdownwardly on the spindle sprocket wheel to show the pawl and ratchetconnecting said spindle to said wheel; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on Line 7-7 of FIG.1.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 there is shown a base 10 on which ismounted an upright support member 11 on which is mounted a pair ofribbon guides 12 leading from a ribbon supply (not shown) .to the loopforming device to be hereinafter described. Also mounted on the uprightmember 11 is an air cylinder 13 which provides motivation through pistonrod 14 to the loop forming device and loop indexing device which aredescribed later.

An upright side support 15' is mounted on each side of the base 10 and astraight cam track 16 and a tapered switching cam track 17 are pivotallymounted on the inner face of each of said side supports. The free end ofthe switching cam track 17 engages the surface of the straight cam track16 to provide an inclined surface to a wheel 24 riding the straight camtrack 16 in the direction of the dotted arrow shown in FIG. 1. As thewheel 24 passes over the pivot point of the switching cam track 17 itdrops to the straight cam track 16 and returns in the oppositedirection, rolling on the straight cam track 16, it lifts the free endof the switching cam track 17, pivoting the latter, and passes undersaid free end after which said free end drops by gravity back to itsresting position on the top surface of straight cam track 16.

An L-shaped bracket 20 is fixed to the piston rod 14 and pivotallymounts pivot arms 21 on its upper extremity. A carrier plate 22 ofrectangular shape is fixed to the pivot arms 21 and is disposed betweenthe side supports 15 leaving adequate clearance between said carrierplate and the switching cam tracks 17 mounted on said side supports. Onthe under side of the carrier plate 22 there is mounted a transversesupport bar 23 at each end of which is rotatably mounted the cam wheel24 which is adapted to roll on the upper surfaces of the cam tracks 16and 17. On the side edges of the free end of the carrier plate 22 aremounted a pair of ribbon guides 25 which extend beyond the free end ofsaid carrier plate.

Also a transverse angle bar 26 is centrally fixed to the piston rod 14.The angle bar 26 is of about the same width as the carrier plate 22 andfreely clears the cam tracks 16 and 17. On the angle bar 26 ismounted anupright bracket 27 as shown. The upright bracket 27 extends between theribbon paths (as the ribbon passes from the guides 12 onto carrier plate22 and through ribbon guides 25) but does not obstruct the passage ofsaid ribbon. A gripper shoe 28 is pivotally mounted at each end of theupright bracket 27 and is adapted to engage the ribbon and grip itagainst the upper surface of the angle bar 26 as said angle bar is movedaway from the cylinder 13 and to release the ribbon as the angle bar ismoved towards said cylinder. The gripper control rod 29 is pivotallyconnected to each gripper shoe 28 and extends back to the upright member11 passing through a hole provided therefor in said bracket. Forward andbackward movement of the control rod 29 is biased by a tension ballpushed against said rod by a spring both mounted in the upright member11 and operating on that portion of said control rod in theabove-mentioned hole. Thus, as the gripper shoe 28 is moving away fromthe ribbon supply the control rod pulls said gripper shoe to bind theribbon between the shoe and the upper surface of angle bar 26 and whenthe gripper shoe moves in a reverse direction the control rod pushessaid gripper shoe away from the ribbon and angle bar to free saidribbon. Also mounted on the upright bracket is a stop screw 30 which isadapted to engage and limit the movement of the gripper shoe 28 when thecontrol rod 29 pushes against it.

A flat compression spring 31 is mounted at the center of the uprightbracket 27 and extends to the free end of the carrier plate 22 where itis fastened. The spring 31 biases the free end of the carrier plate 22in a downward direction so that the cam wheels 24 promptly and closelyfollow the upper surfaces of cam tracks 16 and 17 during forward andbackward movement of said carrier plate.

In operation the loop forming assembly as described above is actuated ina reciprocal manner by the air cylinder 13 and piston rod 14. Prior tocommencement of operation, ribbon is manually fed from the ribbon guides12 between the gripper shoes 28 and the upper surface of angle bar 26,through ribbon guides 25 and impaled on capturing pins 35 of the loopretaining assembly to be hereinafter described.

As the piston rod 14 moves out of and away from the air cylinder, itcauses the gripper shoes 28 to bind ribbons passing under them to theangle bar 26 in the manner previously described. The lengths of ribbonresting on the carrier plate 22 are thus held there while the plate ismoving forward. The cam wheels 24 ride on the upper surfaces of straightcam tracks 16 and when they reach the switching cam tracks 17 they rollupwardly on their upper surfaces forcing the free end of carrier plate22 to swing upwardly and cause the ribbon lengths extending forward fromsaid free end to arch over the impaling pins 35 of the loop retainingassemblies. As the wheels 24 reach the uppermost points of the switchingcam tracks 17 the free end of the carrier plate 22 is almost directlyabove the impaling pins 35, and as the wheels 24 pass over saiduppermost points and drops to the straight cam tracks 16 said free enddrops toward and past the upper ends of said impaling pins to impale theribbon positioned at said free end and complete the formation of theribbon loops.

As the gripper shoes 28 and angle bar 26 are moved forward, new ribbonlengths are withdrawn from the ribbon supply. When the piston rod 14returns toward the air cylinder 13 the gripper control rods 29 pushagainst the gripper shoes 28 to release the ribbon bound thereby to theangle bar 26 surface permitting said shoes and angle bar to slip by thenew lengths of ribbon withdrawn from supply by the above-mentionedforward motion. When the piston rod 14 and its attachments reach itsreturn limit the newly withdrawn ribbon lengths replace the onespreviously resting on the carrier plate 22. The lengths previously onsaid carrier plate are in disposed in front of said carrier platebetween it and the impaling pins 35 ready to be formed into loops uponthe next forward movement of the piston rod 14 and its attachments.

The loop retaining assembly is mounted in a support frame 18 attached tothe front end of base and comprises a pair of spindles 36A and 368 eachrotatably mounted on said supporting frame as shown in a positionsubstantially directly under the free end of the carrier plate 22 whenit passes over the uppermost points of switching cam tracks 17. Pinshafts 37A and 37B pass through and are keyed to each spindle 36A and368 as best shown in FIG. 4 by means of a key pin K cooperating with aguide slot S provided in the shank of said spindle. Each spindle 36A and36B has a center bore which is flared at its upper end. Each pin shaft37A and 37B is constructed with a pair of impaling pins 35 on its upperend, freely passes through holes in the bottom of the supporting frame18 and is attached at its lower end to a retracting pin spindle bar 38for up and down motion therewith in a manner which permits rotation ofsaid pin spindle relative to said bar. The pin spindle bar 38 is boltedat its ends to push rods 39 which pass freely upward through the bottomof supporting frame 18 and are adapted to sliding movement relative tosaid supporting frame. A lock collar 40 is secured to each push rod 39near the bottom of supporting frame 18 by a set screw 41 and a coilspring 42 is disposed around said rod between said supporting framebottom and said collar to hold said rod in place. Stop collars 43 aredisposed around push rods 39 underneath the supporting frame bottombetween said bottom and the spindle bar 38 to limit upward movement ofsaid bar and the pin shafts 37A and 37B attached thereto.

The pin shafts 37A and 37B are operatively connected for substantiallysynchronous, rotational movement by means of pulley wheels 44 keyedthereto and a belt 45 engaging both of said wheels.

It is thus seen that the pairs of impaling pins 35 are adapted torotational movement for receiving and retaining succeeding ribbon loopsin different radial positions thereby forming a bow design of the star,pompon or flower type. Indexing means or rotating apparatus forproviding such rotational movement is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 andincludes a sprocket wheel 50 mounted near the base of spindle 36A. Thesprocket wheel 50 and spindle 36A are in ratchet engagement (by means ofa pawl 71 pivotally mounted on the sprocket wheel 50 cooperating with aratchet gear 72 mounted on the spindle 36A as best shown in H0. 6)permitting clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of said wheel butonly permitting counterclockwise movement of said spindle as viewed fromabove. The sprocket wheel 50 is rotated by a sprocket chain 51 one endof which is fastened to an adjustable anchor 52 mounted on the oppositeside of base 10 and the other end of which is connected by a tensionspring 53 to an anchor post 54 mounted on the same side of base 10. Anidler wheel 55 is so positioned on base 10 as to dispose the chain 51across the path of travel of piston rod 14. An idler wheel 56 is mountedon base 10 to direct the chain 51 around side support 15 and insureproper engagement of said chain with the sprocket wheel 50.

The lower extremity of L-shaped bracket 20 rotatably mounts a driveroller 57 which engages the chain 51 on forward movement of the pistonrod 14. As the piston rod 14 moves forward the chain 51 is pulled aroundidler wheel 55 against the tension of spring 53 and in turn rotates thesprocket wheel 50 in a counterclockwise direction which, through ratchetengagement, rotates the spindle 36A. When the piston rod 14 returns thechain 51 is pulled by spring 53 to turn sprocket wheel 50 in a clockwisedirection, the ratchet release direction, permitting the spindle 36A toremain stationary.

The adjustable anchor 52 is adapted to movement parallel to the path oftravel of the piston rod 14 by means of bias screw 58 and slot 59. Whenthe anchor 52 is in its forwardmost position the chain 51 is tensionedthe least amount by the drive roller 57 and the sprocket wheel 50 andspindle 36A are turned the least amount. When the anchor 52 is in itsrearwardmost position the chain 51 is tensioned the greatest amount bythe drive roller 57 and the sprocket wheel 50 and spindle 36A are turnedthe greatest amount. This adjustment pennits the formation of loops invarious design with each loop superimposed on the next preceding loop atdifferent radial position. The number of degrees offset of eachsucceeding loop can be selected by adjusting the position of the anchor52.

The fastening assembly is mounted on and operates within the supportingframe 18. It comprises a pair of compressed air-operated stapling guns60 each mounted above a spindle 36A or 36B on a cross beam 61 which isbolted at its center portion to a piston rod 62 of an air cylinder 63mounted on top of frame 18. The stapling guns 60 are so positioned thatin their down position the muzzle of each contacts the flared bore of aspindle which acts as a staple closer. The crossbeam 61 is slidable, upand down, on four vertical guide rods 64, one mounted and secured ineach corner of the frame 18. The lower ends of each pair of verticalguide rods 64 on each side of the frame 18 are secured to and connectedtogether by a flat side brace 65 which has a hole 66 in its centralportion to allow free, slidable passage therethrough of the upperportion of push rods 39 on its side of the frame 18. The side braces 65,thus, also serve as guides for the movement of push rods 39.

In operation, after the desired bow design has been formed the pistonrod 62 is actuated by air cylinder 63 to push the stapling guns 60toward their respective spindles. Just prior to the contact of the gunmuzzles with the impaling pins 35 projecting upwards from the spindles36A and 36B, the crossbeam 61 engages the push rods 39 forcing them downagainst the tension of springs 42, causing the spindle bar 38 and pinspindles 37A and 37B to move downwardly, thus withdrawing the impalingpins 35 well within the bores of said spindles 36A and 368. The muzzlesof the stapling guns 60 follow the impaling pins to contact and retainthe ribbon loop nodes 36A and 36B and fire staples therethrough whensaid muzzles are sufficiently close to the spindles 36A and 36B that theflared bore ends of said spindles will force the closure of saidstaples. After stapling the piston rod 62 is withdrawn upwardly by theair cylinder 63 to pull the stapling guns 60 back up into their restingposition and release the push rods 39 for upward motion by the force ofsprings 42. Such upward motion moves the impaling pins 35 back intoretaining position and is limited to the proper extent by stop collars43. The impaling pins 35 in moving back to retaining position pop outthe bow thus formed and fastened and are ready to receive the nextribbon length for the formation of the next bow.

The severing or cutting assembly is adapted to operate with the downwardmovement of the stapling guns 60 and includes a stationary knife edge 67mounted on the lower rear portion of frame 18 across and under theribbon path. A movable knife edge 68 is pivotally mounted on each end ofthe stationary knife edge 67, extends obliquely, upwardly and ispivotally connected to a knife action arm 69 which in turn is pivotallyconnected to crossbeam 61. As crossbeam 611 is lowered by the downwardaction of the piston rod 62 the arms 69 pivot the movable knife edges 68towards and into scissorslike contact with the stationary knife edges 67to cut the ribbons stretched across them.

Although not shown, the bow tying machine described above includesswitching and timing devices for controlling the length of each loopformed, the number of loops formed before fastening and the rate of loopformation. The length of loops formed is controlled by an adjustment onthe air cylinder 13 for regulating the length of stroke of the pistonrod 14 and the rate of loop formation is controlled by a speedadjustment on the air cylinder 13 to regulate the speed of the pistonrod 14 in each direction. The number of loops formed prior to fasteningcan be controlled by a timing mechanism adapted to activate thestapling'assembly air cylinder 63 and stapling assembly piston rod 62while at the same time inactivating the forming air cylinder 13 andforming piston rod 14 in its rearwardmost position. The number of loopsformed can also be controlled by a counter mechanism counting the numberof strokes of the forming piston rod 14 and opening and closing valvesto activate the stapling air cylinder 63 and piston rod 62 and todeactivate the forming air cylinder 13 and piston rod 14. The staplingguns 60 can be air fired in response to a spring loaded valve responsiveto the pressure of the pin spindle retracting bar 38 in its extremedownward position.

These control and timing devices are well within the knowledge ofskilled workers in the art and for this reason have not been shown ordescribed in detail.

Other accessories can be attached to the machine including attachmentsfor feeding tie strings or ribbons or stock on cards to the impalingspindles. Delivery apparatus for conveying the finished bows from themachine are also adaptable to use with said machine.

I claim:

1. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon, rotatable loop retaining means and loop forming means, saidretaining means being adapted to retain in a fixed position relativethereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loopforming means being adapted for movement successively toward saidretaining means to successively apply portions of ribbon spaced alongthe continuous length thereof against said retaining means successivelyto form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of saidretaining means, said forming means operating alternately to movetowards said retaining means and in substantially the same direction assaid axis just prior to the application of said portions against saidretaining means and to move away from said axis in a direction lateralto said axis.

2. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon, rotatable loop rotating means and loop forming means, saidretaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixedposition relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon appliedthereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for movementsuccessively toward said retaining means to apply portions of ribbonspaced along the continuous length thereof against said impaling pinsuccessively to form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis ofsaid retaining means, said forming means operating alternately to movetowards said retaining means and in substantially the same direction assaid axis just prior to the application of said portions against saidimpaling pin and to move away from said axis in a direction lateral tosaid axis.

3. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon, rotatable loop retaining means and loop forming means, saidretaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixedposition relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon appliedthereagainst, said loop forming means comprising a ribbon carrier havinga pivoted end and a free end, said pivoted end being adapted forreciprocating movement laterally towards and away from the rotation axisof said retaining means, and a cam surface cooperating with said carrierto pivot said carrier on said pivoted end as it moves toward said axisto dispose said free end longitudinally adjacent said impaling pin andthence laterally adjacent said pin and to move said free end laterallyaway from said axis as said pivoted end moves away from said axis,thereby forming loops of ribbon radiating from said axis.

4. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon, rotatable loop retaining means, loop forming means and meansoperable by said loop forming means for rotating said retaining means,said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixedposition relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon appliedthereagainst, said loop forming means comprising a ribbon carrier havinga pivoted end and a free end, said pivoted end being adapted forreciprocating movement laterally towards and away from the rotation axisof said retaining means, and a cam surface cooperating with said carrierto pivot said carrier on said pivoted end as it moves toward said axisto dispose said free end longitudinally adjacent said impaling pin andthence laterally adjacent said pin and to move said free end laterallyaway from said axis as said pivoted end moves away from said axis,thereby forming loops of ribbon radiating from said axis.

5. Machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating saidretaining means is operable by said carrier as said pivoted end movestoward said axis.

6. Machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for rotating saidretaining means comprises a sprocket wheel in ratchet engagement withsaid retaining means to rotate said retaining means only when saidsprocket wheel turns in one rotational direction and a sprocketchain'anchored at one end and resiliently anchored at the other end saidchain operatively engaging said sprocket wheel and being displaced bythe movement of said pivoted end thereagainst.

7. A machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon comprising, rotatable loop rotating means and loop forming means,said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixedposition relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon appliedthereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for successivemovement toward said retaining means to apply portions of ribbon spacedalong the continuous length thereof against said impaling pin to formloops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of said retainingmeans, said forming means operating alternately to move towards saidretaining means and in substantially the same direction as said axisjust prior to the application of said portions against said impaling pinand to move away from said axis in a direction lateral to said axis, andstapling means cooperating with said retaining means for stapling saidloops of ribbon together.

8. Machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said retaining means comprisesan anvil on which said ribbon loops are retained and said impaling pinis retractably mounted on said anvil, said stapling means being astapling gun spaced from said anvil and adapted to move into operativecontact with ribbon loops on said anvil for firing a staple against saidanvil.

9. A machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon comprising, rotatable loop rotating means and loop forming means.said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixedposition relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon appliedthereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for successivemovement toward said retaining means to apply portions of ribbon spacedalong the continuous length thereof against said impaling pin to formloops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of said rotating means,said forming means operating alternately to move towards said retainingmeans and in substantially the same direction as said axis just prior tothe application of said portions against said retaining means and tomove away from said axis in a direction lateral to said axis, andsevering means positioned between said forming means and said retainingmeans for severing said length of ribbon from said loops of ribbon.

10. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon or strip material, rotatable loop retaining means and loopforming means, said retaining means having an impaling pin to retain infixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon appliedthereagainst, said forming means operating successively to applyportions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof againstsaid retaining means successively to form radiating loops of ribbon, incombination therewith, stapling means cooperating with said retainingmeans for stapling said loops of ribbon together.

11. Combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said retaining meanscomprises an anvil on which said loops of ribbon are retained and saidstapling means comprises a stapling gun spaced from said anvil andadapted to move into operative contact with ribbon loops on said anvilfor firing a staple against said anvil 12. In a method for makingdecorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon including thesuccessively performed operation of retaining and rotating on an axisportions of said ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof toform loops of ribbon radiating from said axis, wherein said lengthalternately is gripped and displaced towards said axis to move saidportions toward said axis for retainment at said axis to move saidgripping action away from said axis to a succeeding gripping point alongsaid length spaced from the next previous point of gripping action, thatimprovement comprising pulling said ribbon in a lateral direction awayfrom said axis to move said gripping action along said ribbon to saidsucceeding gripping point.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said retainment isobtained by impaling said portions on an impaling pin.

14. In a method of making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon including the successively performed operation of retaining androtating on an axis portions of said ribbon spaced along the continuouslength thereof to form loops of ribbon radiating from said axis, whereinsaid length alternately is gripped at a point spaced from said axis andrelative displacement between said point and said axis is performed forthe retainment of that point of the ribbon at said axis and afterretainment is pulled against retainment at said axis to move saidgripping action away from said axis to a succeeding gripping point alongsaid length spaced from the next previous point of gripping action, thatimprovement comprising pulling said ribbon in a lateral direction awayfrom said axis to move said gripping action along said ribbon to saidsucceeding gripping point.

15. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length ofribbon, rotatable loop retaining means and loop forming means, saidretaining means being adapted to retain in a fixed position relativethereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loopforming means being adapted for movement successively toward saidretaining means to successively apply portions of ribbon spaced alongthe continuous length thereof against said retaining means successivelyto form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of saidretaining means, said forming means and said retaining means operatingalternately with relative motion with respect to one another insubstantially the same direction as said axis just prior to theapplication of said portions against said retaining means and to moveaway from one another in a direction lateral to said axis.

